Diwali celebrations coincide with worsening air. Here's how to stay safer

Diwali, a significant holiday for Hindus and Jains, coincides with worsening air quality in South Asia. This poses challenges for those seeking to celebrate safely. The holiday traditionally involves fireworks, which release a significant amount of pollution. In addition to fireworks, traffic, factories, construction dust, and crop burning contribute to poor air quality across India, Pakistan, and China.

In eastern Europe, heating homes with coal and wood also adds to winter pollution. Western Hemisphere countries face their own air-quality issues due to summer wildfires, which release smoke across vast areas.

To stay safer during Diwali and other times of poor air quality, consulting the Air Quality Index (AQI) is crucial. AQI readings ranging from 201–300 indicate poor air quality, while 301–400 suggests very poor air quality, and 401–500 denotes severe air quality. Severe levels can harm even healthy individuals.

Checking pollution levels on government or privately run websites is recommended before heading outdoors. Pay attention to data from nearby monitoring stations and the time of their last update. Citywide averages can conceal polluted neighborhoods, so it's essential to identify local pollution issues.

For those living in heavily polluted areas like Delhi, where fine particle pollution averaged about 19 times the World Health Organization's annual guideline last year, using properly fitted N95 or N99 masks outdoors during heavy pollution periods is advised. These masks can capture at least 95% and 99% of airborne particles, respectively.

While masks can help, they are not a complete solution. They do not filter harmful gases and should be replaced when dirty or damaged. Individuals with heart or lung disease should consult medical advice before using masks. Loose surgical masks, cloth masks, and scarves provide inadequate protection against fine particles.

Prolonged exposure to polluted air can lead to persistent coughing, inflamed airways, asthma-like attacks, pneumonia, heart attacks, and strokes. It can also lead to impaired lung development in children and increase the risk of lung cancer.

Indoor air purifiers with HEPA filters can help reduce exposure to pollutants. A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is essential, and the clean air delivery rate should be checked to ensure the purifier can adequately clean the air in the room where it is being used. Clean indoor air can reduce exposure, but a purifier cannot eliminate the health risks associated with pollution entirely.

To minimize pollution during Diwali celebrations, it is advisable to avoid bursting firecrackers. Instead, opt for electric lights, which do not produce toxic gases or smoke. However, personal precautions have their limits. Those who earn their livelihoods outdoors cannot simply stay home, and many families cannot afford air purifiers. Therefore, sustained efforts are needed to address the root causes of air pollution.